--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Putting atheism up as a legitimate…" description: "\"“Putting atheism up as a legitimate parallel to religion takes mental gymnastics of Olympian proportions.”\" — Al Stefanelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg" --- # Putting atheism up as a legitimate parallel to religion… ![“Putting atheism up as a legitimate parallel to religion takes mental gymnastics of Olympian proportions.” quote by Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg) > ““Putting atheism up as a legitimate parallel to religion takes mental gymnastics of Olympian proportions.”” [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Equating atheism with religion requires extreme mental gymnastics, implying they are fundamentally different. **In simple terms:** Atheism isn’t comparable to religion. Key Takeaway Question assumptions. Themes belief religion atheism Mood critical analytical Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - debates - education - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts epistemology logical fallacy Questions to Reflect On - Is it fair to compare? - What defines a legitimate belief? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex belief systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Religious people are forced to perform mental gymnastics to reconcile real life with their delusions. When Christianity, Islam and the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/religious-people-are-forced-to-perform-mental-gymnastics-to-reconcile/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-religion-that-takes-no-account-of-practical-affairs-and-does-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This religion takes away the courage of thinking of unusual things and prohibits self-examination above all as the most egregiousof sins… It is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/this-religion-takes-away-the-courage-of-thinking-of-unusual-things/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The word 'religion' takes on a sinister cast when one examines its root, religare, meaning 'to bind,' which in turn means 'to hold, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-laurie-gaylor/the-word-religion-takes-on-a-sinister-cast-when-one-examines-its-root/) [Annie Laurie Gaylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-laurie-gaylor/) > [“If you ask me, any religion that takes the end of the world as one of its central tenets is more or less bogus.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huraki-murakami/if-you-ask-me-any-religion-that-takes-the-end-of-the-world-as-one-of/) Huraki Murakami > [“Culture is "lived religion". It is the form that religion takes in the lives of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-van-til/culture-is-lived-religion-it-is-the-form-that-religion-takes-in-the/) [Henry R. Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-van-til/) > [Political partisans are very good at certain things, including mental gymnastics. We can explain away almost anything that doesn't support our party, candidate or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/political-partisans-are-very-good-at-certain-things-including-mental/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [I have to do some mental gymnastics as an actor sometimes, to remember not to let certain things in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merritt-wever/i-have-to-do-some-mental-gymnastics-as-an-actor-sometimes-to-remember/) [Merritt Wever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merritt-wever/) > [“With enough mental gymnastics, just about any fact can become misshapen in favor to one's confirmation bias.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/with-enough-mental-gymnastics-just-about-any-fact-can-become/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“Unless it was an elaborate double-bluff on Wayne’s part and it was so obvious as to be not obvious at all … Christ, it was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/unless-it-was-an-elaborate-double-bluff-on-wayne-s-part-and-it-was-so/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“Years later, (Paul) Jones described the mental gymnastics that went into writing these scripts. 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I enjoy the mental gymnastics that go along with matching voice to picture and vice versa and trying to accent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/i-started-in-radio-i-enjoy-the-mental-gymnastics-that-go-along-with/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) ## More by Al Stefanelli > [“. The understanding that what is good supports basic human rights and anything that threatens it is bad. We do not need a supernatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/the-understanding-that-what-is-good-supports-basic-human-rights-and/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Somewhere during the process of intellectual development there was a disconnect in the believer’s ability to discern fantasy from reality and the outlandish, scientifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/somewhere-during-the-process-of-intellectual-development-there-was-a/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Fundamental Christianity and Islam are diseases. They are viruses that have infected our species, and I see no reason to cease my broad-brushed punditry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/fundamental-christianity-and-islam-are-diseases-they-are-viruses-that/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“. Christianity is marketed as a religion of love and tolerance, but inwardly it is a destructive virus that causes division, promotes willful ignorance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/christianity-is-marketed-as-a-religion-of-love-and-tolerance-but/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“When mystical elements are introduced into morality, the whole system ends up being corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/when-mystical-elements-are-introduced-into-morality-the-whole-system/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Prayer – The Art Of Talking To Yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/prayer-the-art-of-talking-to-yourself/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“The vilification of atheists is becoming the anchor knot of religion. The more they resist us, the tighter it gets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/the-vilification-of-atheists-is-becoming-the-anchor-knot-of-religion/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“For unbelievers, evil can best be described as the abandonment of our minds to the minds of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/for-unbelievers-evil-can-best-be-described-as-the-abandonment-of-our/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“One competent scientist is worth more than a thousand evangelists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/one-competent-scientist-is-worth-more-than-a-thousand-evangelists/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“The belief in a god is irrational, and once this leap of faith is made it only takes short steps to abandon the standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/the-belief-in-a-god-is-irrational-and-once-this-leap-of-faith-is-made/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Basically, the field of apologetics is an entire discipline built around the concept of getting people to believe the biggest bullshit stories to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/basically-the-field-of-apologetics-is-an-entire-discipline-built/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“When we could not explain the horizon, we simply calculated that the earth has an edge and if you go out too far, you’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/when-we-could-not-explain-the-horizon-we-simply-calculated-that-the/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Take Creationism. Please.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/take-creationism-please/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Equating abortion with murder is not only playing fast and furious with the truth, such a comparison is legally disingenuous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/equating-abortion-with-murder-is-not-only-playing-fast-and-furious/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“The scientific community thrives on probabilities, working theories and fact-based hypothesis that have resulted in the advances we have made in fields such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/the-scientific-community-thrives-on-probabilities-working-theories/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) [Explore all 68 Al Stefanelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Putting atheism up as a legitimate parallel to religion takes mental gymnastics of Olympian proportions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Stefanelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-parallel-to-religion-takes-mental/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-parallel-to-religion-takes-mental/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/al-stefanelli-10033_religion_putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-paral_1236240.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Putting atheism up as a legitimate parallel to religion takes mental gymnastics of Olympian proportions.” — Al Stefanelli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Al Stefanelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Putting atheism up as a legitimate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-parallel-to-religion-takes-mental/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/putting-atheism-up-as-a-legitimate-parallel-to-religion-takes-mental/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```